Video: How to Choose a Telescope

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Extremely portable at 3.1lbs. and just over a foot long with its lens shade retracted, the finely crafted StarBlast 62mm Compact Travel Refractor packs a ton of performance into its small telescope body and can be used for any type of observing.

This 8" aperture Ritchey-Chretien optical tube is ideal for the advanced astrophotographer using small format CCD cameras and DSLRs. Offers a wide, fully illuminated field with pinpoint star clarity and includes an array of high-end features.

This compact 6"-aperture Ritchey-Chrétien optical tube provides advanced astrophotography performance at an incredible price. It is ideal for use with small-format CCD cameras as well as DSLR cameras for deep-sky and solar system astrophotography.

If you're looking for an exquisitely constructed "apo" refractor that can achieve amazing results for both astrophotography and serious visual observing, the versatile Orion EON 115mm ED Triplet is an ideal choice.

This refracting telescope and mount combo was made with the astrophotographer in mind. The Orion Sirius ED80 GoTo mount has over 42,000 objects that can be found at the push of a button. ED glass allows for clear, bright images, free of false color.

The Orion ED80T CF is perfect for the amateur astrophotographer and visual enthusiast. This 80mm aperture apochromatic refractor provides true to color views and images. It is light weight and portable so you can view and photograph anywhere.

The value-packed StarSeeker III 90mm GoTo Mak-Cass Telescope Kit is a great setup for beginning amateur astronomers since it's loaded with so many great accessories and a complete GoTo telescope system.

This value-packed telescope kit is an excellent choice for intrepid beginners. The computerized StarSeeker III 102mm GoTo Mak-Cass provides great views and the additional included accessories help you get the most out of every stargazing session.

The Orion SkyView Pro 180mm GoTo Mak-Cass is the same scope as 24760 but it includes the computerized GoTo to find any one of over 42,000 celestial objects with the push of a button. It is also very portable and compact for easy storage.

Take a guided tour of the skies above with this affordable GoTo Maksutov-Cassegrain. With a long 1300mm focal length and substantial f/12.7 focal ratio, this 102mm (4") aperture StarSeeker III GoTo Mak-Cass excels at high-power views.

The StarBlast 114mm AutoTracker Reflector makes it easy for the whole family to stargaze with its combination of great optics and a motorized mount. This value-packed kit comes with a Shorty 2x Barlow and the Orion Beginning Stargazer's Toolkit.

The Orion SkyView Pro 8 is great for the intermediate astronomer. Images are much brighter and sharper than with a 6" reflector. The large focal length allows you to resolve fine detail at high powers. It can be upgraded to GoTo at any time.

The Orion SkyView Pro 8 GoTo allows you to view deep sky objects and planets in fine detail. 8" reflector optics gather more light than 6" reflector telescopes. The computerized GoTo will find over 42,000 celestial objects at the push of a button.

The Orion Atlas 8 EQ-G GoTo reflector is great for the advanced astronomer. The computerized GoTo mount can locate and track over 42,000 celestial objects, and the telescope is great for all types of visual astronomy and astrophotography.

A great telescope for the advanced observer or astrophotographer, the Orion Atlas 10 EQ-G GoTo is good for viewing faint details or taking pictures of most celestial objects. The GoTo mount can locate over 42,000 objects and track them automatically.

This portable 80mm refractor telescope is ideal for astronomy buffs on-the-go, or for those looking for a compact telescope setup with motorized tracking. After a simple alignment, this tabletop telescope will track celestial objects automatically!

This portable 80mm refractor is ideal for on-the-go astronomers, or for those looking for a compact telescope with precise automatic tracking abilities. This value-packed kit comes with a Shorty 2x Barlow and the Orion Beginning Stargazer's Toolkit.

The Orion ShortTube 80 is perfect being used as a guide scope with a CCD autoguider. It is a compact scope with optics that deliver bright wide-field images. This product is just the tube assembly with no accessories.

In the Orion ED80 Apo Refractor, images appear extremely sharp with no false color. This telescope is suited for viewing both planetary and deep-sky objects as well as for astrophotography. Perfect for the intermediate observer or astrophotographer.

This Orion 203mm Reflector optical tube is perfect for those intermediate observers who already own an equatorial mount. Use the included camera adapter and attach this to your favorite DSLR or CCD camera to begin your astrophotography journey.

Do you already own an equatorial mount? The Orion 254mm optical tube provides vivid, close views of deep-sky and solar system objects. This telescope includes a prime-focus camera adapter for astrophotography.

The LX850 features the fast f/8 Advanced Coma Free optical system which produces a wider, flatter field with no coma for pinpoint stars out to the edge of larger imaging sensors and extreme wide angle eyepieces.

Meade Series 6000 ED APO Triplets are among the finest available optically at any price. Combined with the fantastic qualities of the LX850 mount this package is an advanced astrophotographers dream brought to life.

The 10" LX600-ACF featuresa fast f/8 Advanced Coma Free optical system which produces a wider, flatter field with no coma for pinpoint stars out to the edge of larger imaging sensors and extreme wide angle eyepieces.

Meade Series 6000 ED APO Triplets are among the finest available optically at any price. For crisp wide field observing and imaging, nothing can beat a true triple-element Apochromatic Refractor (APO).

For those looking to step up to an 11" Schmidt-Cassegrain optical tube, Celestron's Advanced VX 11 SCT is a great option. not only is it one of Celestron's most affordable 11" telescopes, it is also one of the most portable.

Celestron's Advanced VX 9.25" Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope is an excellent choice for intermediate level astrophotographers looking to gather 33% more light than an 8" SCT, but without the added weight of using a large 11" telescope.

Always wanted to capture your own astrophotos of planets, nebulas, and galaxies? Now you can! This value-packed bundle includes everything you need to capture beautiful pictures with your own DSLR camera.

With an 8" EdgeHD optical tube and Celestron's portable and fully featured Advanced VX mount, the Advanced 8" EdgeHD telescope setup can be easily transported and assembled by one person. A great setup for astrophotography or visual use.

This classic 8" Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope has been upgraded with Celestron StarBright XLT coatings for maximum light transmission. The fully featured Advanced VX mount allows use of the telescope for both astrophotographic and visual use.

For the intermediate visual observer and beginning astrophotographer, the Celestron Advanced VX 6 SCT is one of the most affordable Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes available on a solid computerized GoTo mount.

This refractor setup from Celestron features an f/8 objective lens and Celestron's Advanced VX GoTo Mount, which can be paired with many planetary or deep-sky astrophotography cameras to create dazzling astrophotos.

The 8" Celestron Cassegrain Telescope allows convenient portability for amateur astronomers. The computerized mount has a database of over 40,000 objects and the pier has an autoguide port and auxiliary ports for long exposure astrophotography.

Celestron's CGEM-925 Cassegrain offers performance and mobility for the advanced stargazer while maintaining an easy to use interface. The computerized mount allows you to find almost 40,000 objects, and 400 user-defined programmable objects.

Celestron's CGEM-1100 11" telescope offers great mobility along with a 40,000 object database. Autoguide port and auxiliary ports are on the electronic pier for long exposure astrophotography. A great scope for the advanced vobserver or photographer.

The portable Celestron CGE Pro 925 is great for the expert observer or astrophotographer. This telescope captures planetary detail and deep sky objects in great detail. The mount can hold up to 90 lbs, sturdy even with all your additional gear.

Like the CGE Pro 925, the Celestron CGE Pro 1100 is a great telescope for the expert observer or astrophotographer. It captures brighter images and more detail than the 9.25. The mount allows you to find over 40,000 objects with the push of a button.

This large aperture Cassegrain for the advanced observer or astrophotographer is Fastar compatible for wide field astrophotography with short exposures. The heavy duty mount on the Celestron CGE Pro 1400 has a 90 lb. load capacity.

For sharp pinpoint stars across a wide field, the Celestron EdgeHD 925 CGE Pro Schmidt Cassegrain excels. Cooling vents allow the mirror to acclimate quickly to temperature, and the optical tube is Fastar compatible for wide field short exposures.

The Celestron Edge HD 1100 is a very large Cassegrain with sharp, coma-free images to the edge of the field. It provides astrograph-quality images of faint deepsky objects as well as planets and is Fastar compatible for wide field, short exposures.

The extremely large aperture Celestron Edge HD CGE Pro telescope is perfect for small faint deepsky objects. The advanced observer or astrophotographer will like the coma-free optics and field flattener insuring sharp focus to the edge of the field.

The Celestron EdgeHD 800 CGEM Schmidt Cassegrain produces crisp, clear photos. This telescope is great for the advanced to expert astrophotographer wanting to capture the faintest of galaxies with low distortion at the corner of the CCD camera chip.

To view fainter objects than the HD800, use the Celestron EdgeHD 925 CGEM Schmidt Cassegrain. It produces crisp, clear images. This telescope is good for the advanced astrophotographer wanting to capture planetary detail and the faintest of galaxies.

The Celestron EdgeHD 1100 CGEM SCT is an excellent large aperture Schmidt Cassegrain design. The EdgeHD provides sharp images at the edge of the field and is Fastar compatible. This is a great scope for the expert observer or astrophotographer.

The CGEM DX 1100 HD combines Celestron's newly designed CGEM DX Computerized Equatorial mount with its new EdgeHD optical system. With an optical tube assembly weighing only 28 lbs, this telescope is still portable enough to be taken to dark skies.

The CGEM DX 1400 HD combines Celestron's newly designed CGEM DX Computerized Equatorial mount with its new EdgeHD optical system. With more than 60% more light gathering power than the 11" telescope, the CGEM DX.

The Celestron CPC Deluxe 800 HD, with EdgeHD optics produces crisp, clear images and celestial views. A great telescope for the advanced observer or astrophotographer. Full GoTo and GPS makes it easy to align and find any of the 40,000+ objects.

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At Orion, we are committed to sharing our knowledge and passion for astronomy and astrophotography with the amateur astronomy community. Visit the Orion Community Center for in-depth information on telescopes, binoculars, and astrophotography. You can find astrophotography "how to" tips and share your best astronomy pictures here. Submit astronomy articles, events, and reviews, and even become a featured Orion customer!